Rectangular storage racks embodying rack units of standard space allocation



Jlme 28, 1960 w. J. HIGGINS 2,942,735

RECTANGULAR STORAGE RACKS EMBODYING RACK UNITS OF STANDARD SPACE ALLOCATION Filed April 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .IIAHAA R5 Si ,1.1. d

June 28, 1960 w. J. HIGGINS 2,942,735

RECTANGULAR STORAGE RACKS EMBODYING RACK UNITS OF STANDARD SPACE ALLOCATION Filed April l0, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTUR l c; ,l IWL/fw J FM4/'V5 June 28, 1960 w. J. HIGGINS 2,942,735

RECTANGULAR STORAGE RACKS EMBODYING RACK UNITS OF STANDARD SPACE ALLOCATION Filed April 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2? f@ 49 W l l,/ IGV INVENT OR. MAL/HM f JY/q//v United States Patent O RECTANGULAR STORAGE RACKS EMBODYING il( UNITS OF STANDARD SPACE ALLOCA- The invention described herein may be manufactured and used -by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention pertains to lthe art of storing stock of various kinds in uniform increments of volume occupied thereby. The invention comprises extendible rack structure consisting of space-allocating rack units which are attachable one to another, the space allocated by any given unit constituting the same volume as volumetric increment of stock, or a higher multiple thereof. Novelty of the invention resides in the structure of a rack unit.

Rack structure of the invention may be extended horizontally to the extent of oor area allotted to storage, and also vertically to attain the optimum storage capacity of the allotted storage space. Accordingly, rack units are attachable to each other horizontally, as also in the vertical direction.

Each rack unit comprises a platform and its supporting elements or legs, and these constitute the essential components of any rack unit, as also the essential components of the rack structure throughout its horizontal and vertical extent. Platforms are interchangeably alike in the several rack units of a rack structure. Legs are interchangeably alike also, within a rack unit, and in the several rack units of the rack structure. Accordingly, a rack structure of any desired extent horizontally and vertically can be assembled from platforms and legs. In a given rack structure, each of all platforms can be the same, as also each of all legs.

A platform constitutes that component of a rack unit on which an increment of stock can rest, and defines the lloor area that is occupied by a rack unit. Rack structure is extended as desired horizontally by attaching platforms, one to another. Legs are attached to platforms to extend downwardly therefrom, and are located wherever needed to support the rack structured and its load of stock. To extend the rack structure vertically, rack units are attached to each other, one above the other. 4Eastening devices are provided, by means of which platforms are attached to each other and legs are attached to platforms.

In the particular structure of the disclosed and preferred embodiment, fasteners are not secured to the' essential components integrally, but instead constitute s'ep arate elements for attaching platforms to platforms and legs to platforms, the platformsV and legs being provided with fastening devices companion to the fasteners. All

fasteners are alike, and are interchangeable within a rack unit, as also throughout the several units of the rack structure. Thus, fasteners, all of which are alike, constitute the only requisite element ofthe rack structure in addition to like platforms and' like legs.

A space increment of stock is rectangular,v as' also a rack unit, and a platform defines a rectangle. Structurally, a platform comprises rest rails arranged to define the plane of a surface of rest on which stock can bear. Rest rails consist of standard stock constituting each a length of elongate stress members, such as an angle iron, channel iron,` etc., and are held in position by means of transverse rails, also consisting each of a length of elongate stress members. The transverse rails are secured to the rest rails to form a rectangular framework of rails.- Juncture members are secured to the framework consisting of rest and transverse rails, to bepositione'd along the several edges of the platform rectangle, and they afford means for platforms to be secured to each other adjacently edge-to-edge in the several rectangular directions. Iuncture members also consist each of a length of elongated stress members, and are secured to the rails which are secured to each other, preferably by welding to constitute a rigid integral structure.

The disclosed rack structure of the present invention is adapted particularly for storing stock on pallets or the like devices, in accordance with common practice in warehouses and transportation. A pallet consists of a flat panel constituting a rectangle, on which stock can rest. Support structure under the panel raises it above the oor, and provides space under the panel into which the fork or the like of a truck can be inserted to liftthe pallet for transporting its stock to or from storage. The area of the panel of a pallet determines the horizontal area of an increment of storage space in a rack structure, the rack structure being somewhat larger to allow clearance for transporting a pallet to or from storage by -means of a truck. The rectangular horizontal area of a rack unit can equal the horizontal area of an increment of storage space, or it can equal the area of several increments adjacently edge-to-edge. Thus, a rack unit can support either one pallet or several pallets adjacently, depending upon its size.

Platforms are constructed to extend rack structure indefinitely horizontally in both rectangular directions, each platform beingattachable to any other platform interehangeably, in both rectangular directions, along either of opposite edges interchangeably. Rack structure can be assembled to constitute a single row of increment storage spaces, which can be backed against a wall or the like, providing frontage for each increment along an aisle through which a truck can travel to or from any increment in the two, selectively. Rack structure can be assembled also lto constitute two rows of increment storage space back-to-back, each rod rfronting on an' aisle, the several aisles extending parallel across the rack from each other.

Usually it is not desired to extend the rack structure in the depth-wise direction more than two rows of increment storage space, because it is preferred that each increment front on an aisle to be accessible `by means of a truck. In the frontage-wise direction, increment storage spaces, in one or two rows, can be extended indelinitely within the limits of floor space allotted to storage. Rack structure comprising either one or two rows of units can be extended vertically by assembling rack, units in tiers, limits of vertical extension of the rack structure being indefinite within the vertical dimension of space allotted to storage. The number'of tiers of rack units is limited also by the height to which a truck isable to lift a pallet of stock. The length of a leg is determined to provide the desired vertical dimension of increment storage space. In the ,disclosed structure,- all legs are the same length, and are positionable interchangeably throughout the rack structure.

Several practical embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which A Fig. l is a perspective of rack structur embodying the invention,

3 Y Y Fig. 2 is a perspective of Va. rack unit of the rack structure of Fig. 1, Y Y

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, `Fig. 4Vis a cross-section, taken on line 4-'-4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is an exploded view of details of the rack uni-t inFig.2, l .Y Y Y Fig. 6 is a cross-section, taken on line 6 -6 of Fig. l, Fig. 7 is a perspective Vof another embodiment of a Vwlig. 8 is a Ycross-section, taken on line 8-#48'1012Y Fig. 7,

i lFigure 9 is acrossfsection,takenon'line'99of Fig. 7.

Structure of rack flrL'Fig.V 1, consists ofseveral. rack funits like the unitn12, Fig. 2. A'basic'lor original ,rack unit f12 is assembled as seen-in Fig. 2,.and. additional .similar units Yare attached to unit 172 'to extend rack' 11 Vin y'both'directions horizntally,.as also V.vertically to constitute several tiers, as seen'in Fig. 1. i

As seen in Fig.2,.a rack .uniti consistsY essentiallyV of platform -15, supported by upright 'members or legs 16, Y Yone .of -whichfis attached at each corner of the platform. Eachplatform 15 comprises Va support rest for storing material, Vconstituting rest rail 18, each Vrest railbeing secured ateach of its opposite .ends to a transverse rail .19 to form a rectangular framework of rails. A'junc- Y ture member 20 issecured at each-eorner of Vthe framework'of rails.`18and 19, Where it defines the corner of v.platform 15. f Y

nl umfiisclssedV 'structure ofrig. 2, aan 'rest rail is 'K constitutes a length of angle iron, a surface 21 of one 30 of'its websrbeing positioned toV constitute a surface of rest. for stock in storage. Web faces 21 of the several Yrails-`18 in platform 15 are located in a plane which Vdefines the rest-surface of theplatform. VRails 18 are held parallel, and near enough to eachother to dene continuity of the surface on which stock rests. The disrtance that rails 18 are spaced apart is determined by the structure of a pallet. are engagedfby a pallet .resting on the rails.

Transverse railsf19 hold restrails 18,1'711V their desired Yparallel relationship in platform 15, v by being secured one.Y a't eachofoppositeends of the vseveral rest rails. Rails 18 beingthe same in .length and positioned to extend coextensively, transverse rails 19 Valso thereby are held parallel to eachother, and are extended coextensively to constitutea framework of rails 18 and 19, which forms da rectangle. l Y Y 1 Y Each transverse rail 19, consistingalso of a length of angle iron, extends, along an edgeof the framework rectangle of rails 18 and 19, the several transverse rails being z Valongopposite edgesof the platform rectangle. -An end of 'eachtransverse rail is located-at a corner of the vframework rectangle. Y Y i According to existing practice, stock is Ydelivered to, or Aremoved from, any unit of urack structure 11, Fig.- 1, .selectively by means ofa truck. Several Vunits of rack structure 11 are arrangedrin a row fronting on an aisle, .which is travelled byY the truck to deliver for remove a pallet of ,stock respectively to t or from ythe selected `unit. I Rack structurell, consisting o f several tiers, is arranged also to constitute vertical c'olumns'of units inthe several tiers.. Conventionally,g the truck comprises a fl'k I the likeonjwhicha pallet *may rest, and which maybe low- Vfered to deliver or remove a palletat the level ofthe floor below platforms `15 of acolumnaof units,n or the Yfork V may beV raised to the level of the platform 15 of any unit :in .thecolumnkonto which it deposits Va pallet of stock wor fromgwhich it removes thepallet. Y

A1; theselected nl@ mqklmnsfrjg fmesrfsiegana approaches the unit in thedir'etion laterally oftransverse irails t19 of fitslplatfprm .15.. mQvns lengthwise@ .fest fS 1-'into p0s ition toflwr a Pallet; Where desitsdm-O ...then-,est` rails, orto raisei a-pallet therefrom. "Accbrdj VVin'gly, transverse 'rails V19 of a 'platformlf'g'bextend the frontage-Wise direction, one rail 19 beingpositioned Two rails 18 are suicient, and

at the front of the unit adjacent to the aisle, opposite the rail 19 being positioned at the rear. Rest rails 18 extend in the depth-Wise direction. Y Y

Juncture members 20 also consist of lengths of angle 5 iron, and one is secured -at each end of each'transverse rail 19, the angle iron ofthe juncture member extending lengthwise of itself and laterally of Ithe ltransverse rail "in theY direction normal to the'plane'of Yrest c lefi'nedY by faces 21 of the several rest rails 18. Rest rails-1 8 are secured to transverse rails 19 preferably by welding, yjuncture members 20 being secured to V,theirtransverse rails in like manner, to constitute a rigid integral structure in each platform 15. y Y

Each juncture member Y20 is secured alongthe inside Vsurface of its web 22 against'web face 23 of its trans- Y verse. rail 19jat the end thereof, Athus positioningrthe other web 24 of the juncture member projecting across the end of the transverse rail. Faces 25 and 26 of respective webs 22 and 24 of'any juncture member 20, being atYV right angles to each other, are located'inplatform 15 .lto'dene a corner of the platform rectangle. e

` In any juncturev member=2r0 at one endof a transverse rrail 19, its web 22 is positioned to locate its `web face T in the same plane with the web face125 of juncture 25 member at the opposite end ofthe transverse rail, thereby defining an edge of the rectangle of platform 15 in the frontage-wise direction. Of juncture members 20 secured to opposite transverse rails 19 of any platform 15, web -faces-25 define opposite edges ofthe platform'rectangle in the frontage-wise direction, and the distance between planes Vof web faces 25 of opposite transverse rails 19 measures the dimension of the platform rectangle in the depth-wise direction. o Y j o Y Y Y In the depth-wise direction, opposite edges ofthe plat- Aform rectangle thatare adjacent to the edges inthe frontage-wise direction of web facesr25 are dened-by Yfaces 26 of webs 24 of the several juncture members 20 of a platform 15. In juncture members 20 of any platform 40 15 at correspondingrends of oppositetransverse rails 1.9, web facesr26 are located toV lie in the same plane, the structure being symmetrically opposite at opposite ends of the several transverse rails. The planes of web faces Y 24 of juncture members 20 at opposite ends of the transverse rails 19 of a platform 15 define opposite edges of the platform rectangle in the depth-Wise direction, and vthe distance between opposite planes of web: faces 26 measures the dimension of the platform rectangle in the frontage-wise direction. y Y Y Any two plaforms 15 positioned Aadjacently edge-toedgeralong their engaging edgesv in the frontage-wise direction present web faces 25 -Vof juncture members 20 Yof the two platforms in companion relationship abutting each`other. Similarly, web faces 26 abut each other in companion relationship when vanytwo platforms 15 are positioned adjacently edge-to-edge along engaging edges in the depth-wise direction.

The angle iron of anyv juncture member 20 is secured Vto its transverse rail 19 to extend lengthwise of itself Vin the direction laterally of therail both'above and below ythe plane of rest of its platform 15 that is delined in web faces Y21 of restrrails 18. Fastening devices, in the disclosed structure constituting bolt holes 27, 28, 29 and'30 through the several webs 22 and 24 of each V juncturemembers 20, are located to be uniformly companion to each other in the several platformsY 15.

f Web 22 of any juncture member 20 contains bolt holes w27 and `28 whichV are located equidistant respectively 'aboveand below the rest planej of platform 15. Similarly bolt holes 29. and 30 through web -24 are located in any juncture member20 equidistant respectively above and below the platform rest plane. YBolt holes 27 and 28 Yin web Hfaces v2 5, and ,bolt holes 29 and 30. in web faces 26am each locafedlmform distances away Yfrom platformirestV planes in vdifferent juncture members of'any'platflrll.1 15,`and indierent platforms.

Therefore, when any two platforms are positioned adjacently edge-to-edge along engaging edges in their frontage-wise directions, companion web faces of the two platforms abut each other face-to-face, and bolt holes 27 above the platform rest plane register with each other, as also bolt holes 28 below the rest plane. Similarly, when depth-wise edges of any two platforms 15 are positioned to engage each other along their companion web faces 26, bolt holes 29 above the rest plane register with each other, as also bolt holes 30 below. The described interchangeability is extended also between opposite edges of any platform 15 either in the frontage-wise or depth-wise direction, so that like bolt holes register with each other whenever either of opposite edges of any platform is positioned against either of opposite like edges of any other platform.

In web face 25 of any juncture member 20, both bolt holes 27 and 28, respectively above and below the platform rest plane, are positioned nearer to the rest plane than bolt holes 29 and 30 respectively above and below the rest plane in web face 26. This staggered relationship between bolt holes 27 and 29 of respective webs 22 and 24 above the rest plane, and between bolt holes 28 and 30 of the same respective webs 22 and 24 below the rest plane, provides added distance between adjacent bolt holes in the two webs aording increased resistance in greater torque arm against relative displacement in any attachment of several elements to each other. The result is added rigidly in structure 11. The added distance between relatively staggered bolt holes 27 and 29 and bolt holes 28 and 30, also alfords more space for handling a tool to assemble rack structure 11. This relationship of bolt holes 27 and 28 of webs 22 both being nearer to the rest plane of a platform 15 than respective bolt holes 29 and 30 of webs 24 occurs at each corner of a platform rectangle in all juncture members 20 in all platforms 15.

Bolts 31 with companion nuts 32 are of a suitable standard size that is readily procurable, and tit all bolt holes 27, 28, 29 and 30, which are all of the same size, the bolts being all the same and interchangeable throughout structure 11. Bolts and nuts 31, 32 are the only elements, in addition to platforms 15 and legs 16 that are required to assemble a structure 11 of any extent. Essential components, consisting of platforms 15 all alike and legs 16 all alike, with fasteners all alike and consisting of standard bolts and nuts 31, 32, in respective quantities of each, are the only materials that need to be supplied to assemble rack structure 11 of any desired extent. Cost of material and assembly time are greatly reduced thereby.

Rock unit 12, Fig. 2, is an original unit, to which other units are attached to extend structure 11, Fig. 1, horizontally. Rack unit 12 consists of a platform 15 and four legs 16, `with the required quantity of eight bolts and nuts 31, 32.

Each leg 16 constitutes a length of standard angle iron with holes 33 and 34 at one of its ends through its respective webs 35 and 36, and at its opposite end of the bolt holes 37 and 38 through its same respective webs 35 and 36. In web 35 at respective opposite ends of each leg 16, bolt holes 33 and 35 are each positioned near to its end of web 36. All legs 16 are the same, and may be placed interchangeably at the several corners of any unit throughout the extent of structure 11, Fig. 1.

At each of its ends alternatively, each leg 16 fits in companion engagement with the inside angle of the angle iron of any juncture member 20 of any platform 15, in either of both positions below and above the rest plane of the platform- Bolt holes 33 and 34 are positioned in respective webs 35 and 36 at one end of any leg 16 to register with respective bolt holes 28 and 30 below the resty plane of any platform 15 alternatively at each of two diagonally opposite corners of the platform rectangle, and yalso at each of the other two diagonally opposite corners, the same bolt holes 33 and 34 register with bolt holes 27 and 29 above the rest plane of the platform. At corners where bolt holes 33 and 34 do not register with bolt holes 28 and 30 below the rest plane of the platform, bolt holes 37 and 38 at the opposite end of each leg projecting downwardly from the platform register with bolt holes 28 and 30 below the rest plane, and with the leg projecting upwardly bolt holes 33 and 34 at the other end of the 1eg register with bolt holes 27 and 29 above the rest plane. At all juncture members 20, bolt holes of web 35 of any leg register with bolt holes of web 22 of the juncture member, and bolt holes of webs 36 and 24 of leg and juncture member, respectively, register with each other, registry being the same at each of any diagonally opposite juncture members, but occurring at opposite ends of legs at the respective several sets of diagonally opposite juncture members in any platform 15.

To assemble platform 12, Fig. 2, two legs 16 are selected as to their appropriate ends for attachment each at one of diagonally opposite corners of the platform rectangle, the other two legs thereby being attachable at their opposite ends, one at each of the other two diagonally opposite corners. All the legs 16 iare positioned to project downwardly from the platform 15. A bolt 31 through bolt hole 33 of a leg 16 in its web 35 registers with bolt hole 23 at each of diagonally opposite juncture members 20 of the platform 15, and another bolt 31 through' hole 34 of web 36 of the leg registers lat each of the same juncture members with bolt hole 30 of web 24. Inherently in this structure, at each of the other two diagonally opposite juncture members 20, a bolt through hole 37 in web 35 of a leg 16 registers also with hole 28 of web 22 of the juncture member, and another bolt 31 through hole 3S of web 36 of the leg registers with hole 30 also of the juncture member. A nut 32 on each of the -bolts 31 is tightened to make rack unit 12 -a rigid structure, as shown.

Lower tier 40, Fig. 1, consists of an original unit 12 of Fig. 2, to which other units are attached to extend rack structure 11 in position as desired to occupy a predetermined area of iioor space allotted to storage. Attachment of added units to unit 12 and to each other may be continued indefinitely in opposite directions either frontage-wise, with companion web faces 26 of adjacent platforms 15 along depth-wise edges of platform rectangles abutting each other face-to-face, or also in opposite directions depth-wise, with companion web faces 25 of adjacent platforms along frontage-wise edges abutting each other face-to-face.

Unit 42 consists of two legs 16 and a platform 15 taken from supply with the required number of four bolts and nuts 31, 32. A leg 16 is attached to each of two adjacent juncture members 20 of the platform 15 along an edge of the platform rectangle in the frontage-wise direction. Either of opposite edges in the frontage-wise direction of any platform 15 may be selected for attaching the two legs 16, respectively, to its adjacently located juncture members 20, the opposite edge of the platform rectangle then remaining to be attached to the .platform of unit 12. The two legs 16 are attached at their respective opposite ends to their respective adjacent juncture members 2% of attachment. A bolt 31 through hole 34 of one leg 16 registers with bolt hole 28 of web 22 of the juncture member 20 to which it is attached, and another bolt 31 through bolt hole 34 of the other web 36 of the leg registers with bolt hole 39 of web 24 of the juncture member. At the other adjacent juncture member 20 along the frontage-wise edge of the platform 15, bolt hole 37 of web 35 of the leg 16, containing a bolt 31 registers with bolt hole 28 of web 22 of the juncture member, and another bolt 31 through hole 38 of the leg registers with bolt hole 3G of the juncture member. A nut 32 is tightened onto each of the -four bolts 31 to secure each ieg 16 rigidly to its juncture member.

Platform 15 of unit 42 may be attached to the platform of unit 12 either after legs 16 are attached, while they platform 47 to constitute a rest surface on which a standard pallet of stock may be placed to locate the two pallets adjacently in rack structure embodying rack unit 45. Rest rails 49 are located coextensively parallel, each being secured rigidly at its respective opposite ends to a transverse rail 50 in any suitable manner such as by welding, transverse rails Si? also being located coextensively parallel to constitute a rectangular framework of rails. A junctural member 53 is secured rigidly at each of opposite ends of each rest rail 49, also by welding, to define the four corners of the platform rectangle in a manner similar to juncture members 20 in the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Except as hereinbefore described, rest rails 49 and ransverse rails 50 are like the rest and transverse, 18 and 19 respectively, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, exception being as to the greater length of transverse rails 50 and the inherently stronger stress members of channel iron being preferred, as compared with angle iron. Juncture members 53 of Fig. 7 are like juncture members 20 of Fig. 2, except that a heavier gage of angle iron is employed to support the heavier load. Legs 4S in the embodiment of Pig. 7 are like legs 16 of the embodiment of Fig. 2, again except that a heavier gage of angle iron is employed to support the heavier load.

Each juncture member 53 is provided with bolt holes 27 and 29 in the respective webs of its angle iron above the rest plane of platform 47, and bolt holes 28 and 30 in the same respective webs below the rest plane of the platform. Each leg 4:8 comprises bolt holes 33 and 34 in its respective webs at one of its ends, and bolt holes 37 and 38 at its other end in the same respective webs. Bolt holes 27, 28, 29 and 36 are arranged in juncture members S3 the same as described hereinbefore with reference to the embodiment of Fig. 2, and bolt holes 33, 34, 37 `and 38 of legs 54 also are arranged the same as in legs 16. Accordingly, a rack structure similar to 11 in Fig. 1 may be assembled, using platforms 47, legs 48, and bolts and nuts 31 and 32, 4in the manner described hereinbefore by which the structure 11 is assembled.

A rack structure of platforms 47 and legs 48 may be assembled to accommodate the same quantity of stock in storage within less space than is required for rack structure 11. Space that is allocated in a unit of the embodiment of Fig. 7 for two pallets positioned adjacently, eliminating a leg between the areas of the twoy pallets, requires less clearance for operating a truck safely to deliver stock to, or remove stock from a rack structure. The length of transverse rails 50 may be shorter, accordingly, and this structure of platforms 47 is satisfactory if all rack units of the whole rack structure consists of the embodiment of Fig. 7. However, the distance between opposite depth-wise edges of the rectangle of platform 47 may be made the same as twice the dimension of platform in the frontage-wise direction, the length of transverse rails 50 being determined accordingly. The latter structure enables any two adjacent units in the frontage-wise direction, in any tier 40, 41 of rack structure 11, to be removed and replaced by a single unit comprising a platform 47 and legs 48, without disturbing the remainder of the structure 11.

The oost of a platform 47 is much less than the cost of two platforms 12. Therefore, the cost of rack structure according to the embodiment of Fig. 7 is less than rack structure 11, and affords a saving in cost and time to build a rack structure, as compared with rack structure 11 of the same capacity.

Several embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Scope of the invention is delined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. In rack structure, a platform element comprising a .if

first transverse rail, n second transverse rail parallel to and spaced from said first rail, a rst rest rail having its ends secured to said transverse rails and a second rest rail having its ends secured to said transverse rails, said second rest rail being parallel to and spaced from said first rest rail, whereby said transverse and rest rails denne a double-barred H configuration, a plurality of juncture elements each comprising an angle iron bracket member having the inner face of one flange secured to the outer side of a transverse rail and having the inner face of the other flange secured to the end of said transverse rail, each bracket member extending symmetrically above and below the plane defined by said platform element, and means to secure leg posts and like bracketl members of like platform elements to said bracket members.

2. In the combination of claim l, said securing means for leg posts and like bracket members comprising first holes in one flange of said bracket member at a first distance from the proximate face of said platform element and second holes in the other flange of said bracket member at a second distance from the proximate face of said platform element, each hole being adapted to receive a bolt.

3. In the combination of claim 2, the platform element further comprising a plurality of leg posts of angle iron, each leg post having a hole in each end of each ange adapted to mate with corresponding holes in the flanges of said bracket members and a plurality of bolts so securing each leg post to one of said bracket members.

In rack structure, the combination of claim 3 further comprising a like platform element having selected bracket members secured to bracket members of said platform element and having like leg posts secured dependingly to bracket members other than the bracket members of said platform element and other than said selected bracket members.

5. In rack structure, the combination of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of like platform elements having selected bracket members secured to bracket members of said platform element, other selected bracket members of one or more of said like platform elements being secured to each other to provide coupled transverse and lateral rows of platform elements, and having like leg posts secured dependiugly to each single bracket member and a single like leg post secured dependingly to one of two or more adjacent bracket members.

6. In rack structure, the combination of claim 5 further comprising a like leg post secured opstanding from selected single bracket members and single like leg posts secured upstanding from selected ones of two or more adjacent bracket members, and like platform elements secured similarly to each other and to the ends of said upstanding leg posts distal said bracket members, to provide a second level of platform elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,336,973 Levene Apr. 13, 1920 1,573,215 Yorke Feb. 16, 1926 2,011,125 Small Aug. 13, 1935 2,579,685 Loose Dec. 25, 1951 2,700,520 Skubic Ian. 25, 1955 2,738,883 Wineman Mar. 20, 1956 2,778,693 Jagiel Jan. 22, 1957 2,815,130 Franks Dec. 3, 1957 2,825,470 Dahlin Mar. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,642 Italy Apr. 5, 1956 

